What's the first thing you think of when you hear about the Miniature Pinscher? Many think he's a miniature Doberman. Others think he's simply yappy and tends to bite. Owners of this breed can tell you none of that is true.

In actuality, the Min Pin is fun loving, loyal and intelligent. He's earned his nickname as the King of the Toys.

When you're getting a Miniature Pinscher you're definitely getting a dog with an attitude. He's been called a big dog in a small dog's body. Min Pins only weigh about 10 pounds, but act like they are much bigger. And they are full of pride, which you can witness by the way they step high and hold their head high when they walk. This is a proud breed.

Combine the pride with the Miniature Pinscher's fierce loyalty to his owner and his tremendous courage, and you have a great watchdog. But in all fairness, they can also be a handful.

Min Pins can become almost tyrannical, running your house for you. If you own this breed you simply need to establish early on that you are the one in charge. Some Min Pin owners may have trouble disciplining their pet simply because he's so cute. Don't make this mistake. You'll find that because this breed is so intelligent that training is fairly easy.

Take the time to train him properly and your Min Pin will be an fantastic pet. They are loving and exceedingly loyal, but they are also a blast to watch play. If you love to laugh (and who doesn't?), then the Miniature Pinscher is a great breed for you.

Remember we mentioned that the Miniature Pinscher is good with children. There's a catch. Because the breed is very sturdy and of course playful, kids can have a tendency to play too rough. Min Pins aren't fragile, but they are only 10 pounds. Children need to keep this in mind because as we said, they certainly act like they weigh more.

And there are very few breeds that would be considered more loyal than a Miniature Pinscher. He will quickly become attached to everyone in your family, although he does have a tendency to become very attached to one person in particular.

If you want a pet to entertain you, love you, be loyal to you, and just be fun to be around, the Miniature Pinscher would be a great choice. The breed remains very playful even into its old age. You may think you need a lot of energy to keep up with them, and to a certain extent that's true. But they love to play by themselves with you watching. And while they do need exercise, because of their size they can get plenty of it just running around your home or apartment.

And when it's time to settle down your Min Pin will be right there next to you. They are fun, smart, loyal, and easy to care for. What more would you want in a family pet?